TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee has approved Assembly Bill No.1755 with amendments, imposing new requirements on older lawn sprinkler systems during real estate transactions. This bill requires properties with lawn sprinkler systems installed before September 8, 2000, to have an operational automatic rain sensor or smart sprinkler as a condition of sale.
The current law, effective since September 8, 2000, mandates that all newly installed automatic lawn sprinkler systems have a device to override irrigation during sufficient rainfall. The new bill extends this requirement to older systems, ensuring they too meet these water conservation standards.
Key to the bill is the stipulation that property sales cannot finalize unless the seller provides proof of installing an operational automatic rain sensor or smart sprinkler. Both the buyer and seller must certify in writing at closing that this condition is fulfilled. However, failure to meet this requirement does not affect the validity of the property title. The bill exempts properties within common interest communities from this requirement.
Violators, including those who sell, lease, or rent properties non-compliant with these requirements, could face fines up to $500.
The bill also sets deadlines for retrofitting older sprinkler systems in different property types. Within 24 months of the bill’s enactment, systems in common interest communities must be updated. Commercial, retail, or industrial properties have a 12-month deadline post-enactment for retrofitting.
Assembly Bill No.1755, initially filed for the 2022-2023 session, includes changes from a technical review, aligning it with the committee’s amendments. These amendments clarify the requirements and provide definitions for “automatic rain sensor” and “smart sprinkler,” ensuring a clear understanding and implementation of the bill’s provisions.